A special message and extraordinary entreaty for prayer from Stewart Wicker, SAMS Mission Director:
“Keep your eyes fixed upon Jesus,” prayed Seth, after he shared with me the story of Peter walking on the water toward the Lord. As the waves of pandemic are raging across the world, my friend Seth and I prayed together this morning to respond in faith and for God’s merciful intervention in the troubled times we face. Also, I am laying before God’s throne the multitudes whom your missionaries work among, whose present extreme vulnerability lays them bare to yet another threat we collectively face. Would you join us in prayer for the spiritual and physical healing of the nations?
Your missionaries continue to minister through the doors that God opens to them. As they serve in places of risk and sacrifice, I am reminded in this season of Lent that the way of the cross is an other-centered life, even unto death. Would you join us in prayer for your missionaries sharing the love of Jesus with those in need of good news? Pray please for those who are missing community, feeling stranded, quarantined, or going through grief—especially those who have had to leave with little time to prepare. Pray for those who have difficult decisions to make because of these unprecedented circumstances.
Our home staff team has stepped up incredibly to come alongside your missionaries, though almost all of the team is working remotely now in order to protect all in our communities. We monitor the ongoing crisis as most short-term missionaries return to the USA and long-term missionaries adjust to new circumstances in their respective countries with a few needing to return for the time being. As we communicate via phone and computer to pray and coordinate care for the extraordinary needs of missionaries, would you please pray for Denise, Nita, Julie, Dana, Kate, Liz, Howard, Kristen, Lynn (retiring this week after 30+ years!), and me?
In this time when we may tend toward discouragement, may we together hold on to encouragement in the Lord calling upon his name. We invite you to join your SAMS family for Noonday Prayer on Thursdays via a ZOOM conferencing call for the next few weeks, starting March 26, 12:00-12:15 PM EST. Please email kateulrich@sams-usa.org to receive an invitation and instructions for phone dial-in or computer connection. Use the instructions to join the call around 11:55 AM, to pray a brief liturgy and to intercede before the Lord.
Our staff will also be praying together via ZOOM every weekday, and we would love to pray for you during those times. Please feel free to submit prayer requests on our website, email them to info@sams-usa.org or call Nita at 724-266-0731 (8:30 AM – 4:30 PM EST).
I thank God for each of you. Your Society is praying for you:
Prayer for Trustfulness in Times of Worry and Anxiety, Book of Common Prayer 2019
Most loving Father, you will us to give thanks for all things, to dread nothing but the loss of you, and to cast all our care on the One who cares for us. Preserve us from faithless fears and worldly anxieties, and grant that no clouds of this mortal life may hide from us the light of that love which is immortal, and which you have manifested unto us in your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
God is our refuge and strength,
a very present help in trouble.
Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way,
though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea,
though its waters roar and foam,
though the mountains tremble at its swelling. -Psalm 46:1-3 (ESV)
May our Good Shepherd be with you, rescuing, protecting, and comforting.
Stewart Wicker,
Mission Director